New Business Leasing Specialist

Life & Brand Portfolio; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 30 000 - 60 000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a New Business Leasing Specialist to drive strategic expansion across South Africa. This pivotal role involves generating leads, negotiating leases, and managing relationships with landlords and franchisees. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in the restaurant industry and franchise management, ensuring alignment with the company's growth strategy. This position offers an exciting opportunity for a dynamic professional to make a significant impact in a fast-paced environment, contributing to the success of new restaurant locations and regional expansion efforts.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of franchise experience required.
• Strong knowledge of the restaurant industry is essential.
• Experience in lease negotiations and financial management.

Responsibilities

• Generate high-potential leads and conduct market research.
• Lead lease negotiations and manage stakeholder relationships.
• Collaborate with teams to assess ROI and conduct feasibility studies.

Skills

Lead Generation

Lease Negotiation

Stakeholder Relationship Management

Market Research

Financial Analysis

Education

Franchise Experience

Financial Background

Restaurant Industry Knowledge

Job description

Life & Brand Portfolio is looking for a New Business Leasing Specialist. The New Business Leasing Specialist is responsible for driving strategic expansion through targeted lead generation, lease negotiations, and relationship management with landlords and franchisees. This role plays a critical part in securing prime restaurant locations across South Africa and assist in the broader African region. The Specialist will identify and secure strategic lease opportunities, including lease takeover, white box conversions and lease renewals, ensuring alignment with the company’s growth strategy. Restaurant or retail experience preferred.

Key Responsibilities Include but not limited to:

Lead Generation & Site identification

• Generate at least five high-potential leads within the first three months.
• Create and maintain a dynamic list of target sites for new development bearing in mind the different brands within the portfolio.
• Conduct market research to identify upcoming opportunities in malls, busy streets, and developing urban nodes and match them with the different brands.

Lease Negotiation & Site Acquisition

• Lead lease negotiations for new store locations, takeover of existing leases, and renewal of existing leases.
• Evaluate white box and iconic site opportunities for strategic growth.
• Collaborate with operations, compliance and finance teams to structure lease terms aligned with business objectives.

Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Build and sustain strong relationships with key landlords (e.g., Redefine, Old Mutual, Liberty, Attacq).
• Maintain ongoing communication and trust with franchisees throughout the leasing and site selection process.
• Serve as the key liaison between landlords, developers, and internal project teams.

Franchise & Expansion Support

• Support franchisees with site feasibility assessments and location strategies.
• Align new site selection with brand positioning and demographic targeting.
• Host monthly New Business development seminars/conferences with landlords, potential and current franchisee and other stakeholders.

Financial and Feasibility Analysis

• Collaborate with finance and operations teams to assess ROI, sales projections and occupancy costs.
• Conduct feasibility studies to ensure selected site meets the criteria for the suggested brand.
• Ensure lease terms align with the company’s strategic and financial goals.

Reporting & Analysis

• Attend and contribute to weekly development team meetings.
• Provide monthly progress reports on new business activities.
• Deliver quarterly board updates on development performance and pipeline.
• Maintain updated restaurant leasing files for each location.

Travel

• Travel extensively within South Africa for site inspections and stakeholder meetings.
• Potential travel to other African countries for regional expansion opportunities.

Qualifications & Requirements::

·Franchise experience of minimum 3 years.

·Must have knowledge and operational experience within the restaurant industry.

·Must have a financial background in terms of franchise agreements and management accounts.

·Experience dealing with leasing.

PLEASE NOTE THAT PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO CANDIDATES FROM A PREVIOUSLY DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUND, IN TERMS OF OUR COMMITMENT TO EMPLOYMENT EQUITY.

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